COYOTES FALL TO MINNESOTA

On Saturday night, the Phoenix Coyotes traveled to Minnesota to take on the Wild in the second game of a home-and-home series. However, unlike Friday night's 3-2 victory, the Coyotes found themselves taking the majority of the penalties (14), giving the Wild enough room to come away with a 7-0 win.

Pierre-Marc Bouchard scored two goals and registered an assist while Brian Rolston added a goal (game-winner) and two assists in his first game with Minnesota.

Rolston, who signed with the team in the summer of 2004, scored on a five-on-three power play in the opening period, and assisted on goals by A.J. Thelen and Bouchard.

Wes Walz, Roman Voloshenko and Pascal Dupuis also added goals for the Wild and defenseman Brent Burns pitched in two assists.

The first goal of the third period, which was originally credited to Mikko Koivu was later changed and given to A.J. Thelen, who also had an assist on the evening. Defenseman Nick Shultz, who registered 10 assists during the 2003-04 season, received his first assist of the preseason on Thelen's goal.

The Wild finished with four power-play goals, and a short-handed score.

Dwayne Rolson made 20 saves and earned the shutout for Minnesota while David LeNeveu played the entire game in goal for Phoenix and finished with 28 saves.

NEXT GAMEThe Coyotes will fly home tonight and return to the ice on Sunday as they prepare for Tuesday's contest against Pacific Division rival, the Los Angeles Kings. The game will take place at the Glendale Arena and will start at 7:00 p.m. Head Coach Wayne Gretzky is scheduled to coach from behind the bench for Tuesday's game after having spent the first two games of the preseason watching from a booth upstairs

BOUCHER INJURY UPDATECoyotes netminder Brian Boucher, who was injured in the shootout following Friday night's game, did attend a practice session at the Glendale Arena on Saturday morning, but did not skate.

Boucher strolled around the locker room softly after suffering a groin injury the night before.

No timetable has been announced for Boucher's return and he's expected to be re- eval uated on Sunday while the Coyotes practice.

POWER PLAYS GALOREIn the Coyotes first two games of the preseason, 9 out of the 12 goals scored have come on the power play. Another goal came shorthanded leaving only a pair of goals scored at even strength.

TICKETS NOW ON SALEOn Saturday, single game tickets for all regular season Coyotes home games, went on sale for the first time.Fans can purchase tickets for any of Phoenix's 41 home contests by logging onto Ticketmaster.com.